Method and apparatus for providing multimedia content on a mobile media center

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for providing multimedia content over a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a customer via a data enabled cellular phone for accessing one or more multimedia content from a multimedia content server of the customer, and performs an authentication for obtaining the one or more multimedia content from the multimedia content server. The method obtains the one or more multimedia content from the multimedia content server, and transmits the one or more multimedia content to the data enabled cellular phone.

The present invention relates generally to communication networks and,more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing multimediacontent on a mobile media center, wherein the multimedia is providedover a cellular network, or other wireless access networks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As Internet usage continues to grow, the desire to have access tomultimedia content at all times also continues to grow. A user may wishto access media content, e.g., entertainment videos, at any location. Assuch, the user may bring the multimedia content along that can be playedon a laptop or a portable player. However, the user's access is limitedto the multimedia content that the user is carrying with him/her.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention discloses a method andapparatus for providing multimedia content over a wireless network. Forexample, the method receives a request from a customer via a dataenabled cellular phone for accessing one or more multimedia content froma multimedia content server of the customer, and performs anauthentication for obtaining the one or more multimedia content from themultimedia content server. The method obtains the one or more multimediacontent from the multimedia content server, and transmits the one ormore multimedia content to the data enabled cellular phone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teaching of the present invention can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an illustrative network related to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an illustrative network of the current invention forproviding multimedia content on a mobile media center;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method for providing multimediacontent on a mobile media center; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a high-level block diagram of a general-purposecomputer suitable for use in performing the functions described herein.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention broadly discloses a method and apparatus forproviding multimedia content on a mobile media center. Although thepresent invention is discussed below in the context of multimediacontent provided over a cellular network, the present invention is notso limited. Namely, the present invention can be applied for other typesof wireless networks, e.g., a wireless local access network and thelike.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an illustrative packet network 100related to the current invention. Exemplary packet networks includeInternet protocol (IP) networks, Ethernet networks, and the like. An IPnetwork is broadly defined as a network that uses Internet Protocol suchas IPv4 or IPv6 and the like to exchange data packets.

In one embodiment, the packet network may comprise a plurality ofendpoint devices 102-104 configured for communication with the corepacket network 110 (e.g., an IP based core backbone network supported bya service provider) via an access network 101. Similarly, a plurality ofendpoint devices 105-107 are configured for communication with the corepacket network 110 via an access network 108. The network elements (NEs)109 and 111 may serve as gateway servers or edge routers for the network110.

The endpoint devices 102-107 may comprise customer endpoint devices suchas personal computers, laptop computers, Personal Digital Assistants(PDAs), servers, routers, and the like. The access networks 101 and 108serve as a means to establish a connection between the endpoint devices102-107 and the NEs 109 and 111 of the IP/MPLS core network 110. Theaccess networks 101 and 108 may each comprise a Digital Subscriber Line(DSL) network, a broadband cable access network, a Local Area Network(LAN), a Wireless Access Network (WAN), a 3^(rd) party network, and thelike. The access networks 101 and 108 may be either directly connectedto NEs 109 and 111 of the IP/MPLS core network 110, or indirectlythrough another network.

Some NEs (e.g., NEs 109 and 111) reside at the edge of the coreinfrastructure and interface with customer endpoints over various typesof access networks. An NE that resides at the edge of a coreinfrastructure is typically implemented as an edge router, a mediagateway, a border element, a firewall, a switch, and the like. An NE mayalso reside within the network (e.g., NEs 118-120) and may be used as arouter, or like device. The IP/MPLS core network 110 also comprises anapplication server 112 that contains a database 115. The applicationserver 112 may comprise any server or computer that is well known in theart, and the database 115 may be any type of electronic collection ofdata that is also well known in the art. Those skilled in the art willrealize that although only six endpoint devices, two access networks,five network elements and so on are depicted in FIG. 1, thecommunication network 100 may be expanded by including additionalendpoint devices, access networks, network elements, and/or applicationservers, without altering the scope of the present invention. The aboveIP network is described to provide an illustrative environment in whichpackets for various services, e.g., voice, data and multimedia (e.g.,video, movies and the like) services, are transmitted on networks.

A customer may wish to have access to multimedia content located at thecustomer's primary address, e.g., a home or a place of business, whiletravelling. However, the customer's entire library of multimedia contentmay not be available as it would be if the customer was physically athome. For example, the customer's multimedia content may comprise one ormore videos, photos, music files, home surveillance data, and the likethat are stored on a server at home.

In one embodiment, the current invention provides multimedia content ona mobile media center over a wireless network, e.g., a cellular network.A customer may request to access multimedia content stored at anotherlocation (e.g., the customer's home). For example, the customer mayrequest to play the multimedia content, to receive updates of themultimedia content, and/or receive new multimedia content from the homelocation.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary network 200 in accordance with thecurrent invention for providing multimedia content on a mobile mediacenter. The exemplary network 200 comprises a mobile media center 201communicating with an IP network 110 via a wireless access network 101and PE router 109. Similarly, a multimedia content server 205 e.g.,located at a subscriber's home 204 is communicating with the IP network110 via the PE router 111. The IP network 110 may also include anapplication server 212 and a database 214.

In one embodiment, the mobile media center 201 comprises: a mobiledisplay device 202, a mobile set-top box 203 and a data enabled cellularphone 102. The mobile media center 201 can be used by a customer totransfer, store and/or playback multimedia content while traveling,e.g., in a vehicle, train, and so on.

In one embodiment, the mobile set-top box 203 includes a memory forstoring multimedia content (e.g. one or more hard drives), Input/Output(I/O) devices, and a processor. For example, the mobile set-top box 203can be installed into a vehicle such as a car, a truck, a boat, amotorcycle, and the like.

In one embodiment, the data enabled cellular phone 102 is used to importor transfer multimedia content into the memory of the set-top box 203.For example, the data enabled cellular phone may be a Smartphone, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), etc. that is capable of communicatingover a cellular network, for receiving and transmitting data from one ormore networks, e.g., an IP network, a home network, etc. For example,the data enabled cellular phone 102 may serve as the primary connectiontool to obtain multimedia content stored in a multimedia content server205 deployed at the subscriber's home 204.

In one embodiment, the data enabled cellular phone 102 is also used tocontrol the mobile set-top box 203 and mobile display device 202. Forexample, the data enabled cellular phone may have software and hardwareneeded to remotely control the set-top box and the display device, e.g.,an infrared transmitter or an RF transmitter.

In one embodiment, the service provider may implement the current methodfor providing multimedia content to mobile media centers in anapplication server 212. For example, the service provider may enablecustomers to interact with application server 212 and request amultimedia content to be downloaded to their mobile media center 201.The application server 212 may store customer information, e.g.,subscription information, preferences, etc., in the database 214. Theapplication server 212 may gain access to the multimedia content server205 via an access management system 222. For example, the accessmanagement system 222 may perform authentication to ensure that therequest for multimedia access originated from the customer. For example,the authentication via the access management system 222 may require apassword, an originating phone number associated with the data enabledcellular phone, a decryption key (if the requested multimedia content isencrypted), a voice signature, and the like.

In one embodiment, the customer is able to import multimedia content bycommunicating with a service provider via a wireless connection. Forexample, the customer may subscribe to a service for receivingmultimedia content on a mobile media center 201 from a network serviceprovider. The network service provider may implement the current methodfor providing multimedia content on a mobile media center in applicationserver 212 and enable customers to access the service via a data enabledcellular telephone, e.g., cellular phone 102.

A customer may then send a request to access the multimedia contentstored at another location (e.g., the customer's home or office 204) viahis/her data enabled cellular phone 102. For example, the customer maycommunicate with application server 212 over the cellular network 101and PE router 109 to request to play stored multimedia content, updatestored multimedia content, and/or import new multimedia content from themultimedia content server 205.

In turn, the application server 212 may then receive the request fromthe customer for accessing multimedia content from the customer'smultimedia content server. The current method may then perform anauthentication for obtaining the requested multimedia content from thecustomer's multimedia content server 205. In one embodiment, theauthentication comprises communicating with a gateway via an accessmanagement system 222. For example, the customer may allow access to themultimedia content server 205 only through a service provider thatmanages the customer's home network. Thus, the access to the multimediacontent may have to be facilitated by the service provider managing thehome network through the access management system 222. It should benoted that the service provider managing the home network may be adifferent service provider from the service provider who is providingthe wireless access service on network 101.

In one alternate embodiment, the service provider for accessingmultimedia content on a mobile media center and the service provider formanaging access to content stored at another location, e.g., acustomer's home, may be the same service provider. Hence, the serverthat provides access to the multimedia content may be able to gainaccess to the requested multimedia content directly. That is, withoutthe necessity of gaining access via another service provider.

The method then obtains the multimedia content from the multimediacontent server 205 and transmits or forwards the multimedia content tothe customer's data enabled cellular phone 102. For example, the methodmay play stored multimedia content, update stored multimedia content,and/or import new multimedia content in accordance with the request.

In one embodiment, the requested multimedia content is streamed to thecellular phone for immediate viewing. For example, the customer may wishto watch the content as it is being transmitted to the mobile mediacenter. For example, the multimedia content may be a security video fora home network. The customer may then view the multimedia content as itis being streamed by application server 212.

In one embodiment, the requested multimedia content is first transmittedto the data enabled cellular phone and then viewed. For example, thecustomer may wish to download pictures or movies stored at home.Alternatively, the customer may prefer to download the entire requestedmultimedia content first before viewing to facilitate various viewingfunctions. For example, viewing functions such as, fast-forwarding,rewinding, pausing, skipping, etc. may be performed with ease if theentire multimedia content is downloaded first.

In one embodiment, the method transmits the multimedia content to themobile set-top box 203 via the data enabled cellular phone 102. Forexample, the customer may wish to store the multimedia content for laterviewing. For example, the customer may wish to be connected to thecellular network only for the purpose of downloading the multimediacontent. Once the customer has completed importing the multimediacontent into the set-top box 203, the customer may view the multimediacontent on the mobile display device 202 without the necessity formaintaining a connection to the cellular network 101. That is, once thedesired multimedia content is fetched, the viewing may be performedindependently.

In one embodiment, the above data enabled cellular phone may also havemultimedia content previewing capability. For example, a customer maywish to browse through a library of multimedia content stored at anotherlocation prior to transferring a selected multimedia content from thelibrary of multimedia content. For example, the data enabled cellularphone can be used to access an index for the library of multimediacontent, where the index may comprise names of various multimediacontent, or a preview (e.g., a short sequence of image frames) of eachof the various multimedia content.

In one embodiment, the mobile set-top box may display the one or moremultimedia content on a display screen of a vehicle. For example, theset-top box is installed in a manner to interact with a car's videodisplay device (e.g., the car's entertainment system). In anotherexample, the customer's vehicle may have other displays for otherpurposes, e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) devices or navigationsystems. The customer may then be able to operate a mobile set-top boxthat is capable of displaying content on existing display devices withinthe vehicle.

In one embodiment, the mobile set-top box is programmable by a user. Forexample, the customer may wish to program the set-top box such that theset-top box automatically obtains multimedia content from a homelocation according to a predetermined schedule. For example, thecustomer may wish to download content from a home location after ascheduled event has concluded, e.g., after a football game is finished.In other words, the multimedia content server 205 may have recorded thefootball game that can be retrieved at a later time by the data enabledcellular phone. In one embodiment, the set-top box is programmed by theuser via the data enabled cellular phone. For example, the customer usesthe cellular phone's remote control capability to program the mobileset-top box.

In one embodiment, the mobile set-top box has a predetermined homelocation, i.e., permanently installed at a location. For example, if theset-top box is installed within a vehicle, the customer may designatethe garage in the customer's home location as the home location for themobile set-top box.

In one embodiment, the mobile set-top box is able to determine whetherit is at its home location. For example, the mobile set-top box may havea Global Positioning System (GPS). The set-top box may then be able tocompare the GPS coordinates of its home location with the GPScoordinates of its current location to determine proximity to its homelocation.

In one embodiment, the mobile set-top box automatically obtainsmultimedia content when it is at its home location. For example, theset-top box 203 may automatically download the latest videos, pictures,etc. from the multimedia content server 205 when the car is parked inthe garage of the customer's home 204. It should be noted that thisalternate embodiment does not require the use of the data enabledcellular phone for obtaining the requested multimedia content. In otherwords, the mobile set-top box is implemented with a transceiver tocommunicate directly with the wireless access network 101.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 for providing multimediacontent on a mobile media center. For example, one or more steps ofmethod 300 can be performed by an application server. Method 300 startsin step 305 and proceeds to step 310.

In step 310, method 300 receives a request from a customer via a dataenabled cellular phone for accessing one or more multimedia contentstored on the customer's multimedia content server. For example, acustomer may request for a multimedia content and provide the locationof the content, e.g., the location of the multimedia content server oranother device accessible via the multimedia content server.

In step 320, method 300 performs an authentication for obtaining therequested one or more multimedia content from the customer's multimediacontent server. For example, the method communicates with an accessmanagement system to gain access to the customer's multimedia contentserver.

In step 330, method 300 obtains the one or more multimedia content fromthe customer's multimedia content server. For example, the methodobtains the requested content from the multimedia content server at thecustomer's home (or any other locations where the customer's multimediacontent server is deployed, e.g., an office, a place of business, and soon).

In step 340, method 300 transmits or forwards the one or more multimediacontent to the data enabled cellular phone. For example, the methodstreams or downloads the requested multimedia content to the customer'sdata enabled cellular phone.

In optional step 350, method 300 transmits or forwards (wirelessly orvia a wired connection, e.g., a cable or a port) the one or moremultimedia content from the data enabled cellular phone to a mobileset-top box. For example, the method may stream or download the one ormore multimedia content for storing the content in a set-top box forlater viewing. The method then ends in step 360 or return to step 310 tocontinue receiving requests.

Those skilled in the art would realize that the service providers forthe cellular service, for forwarding the multimedia content to themobile media center and/or for providing access management of themultimedia content server may be the same service provider or differentservice providers. Thus, the above exemplary network is not intended tolimit the implementation to any number of service providers.

It should be noted that although not specifically specified, one or moresteps of method 300 may include a storing, displaying and/or outputtingstep as required for a particular application. In other words, any data,records, fields, and/or intermediate results discussed in the method 300can be stored, displayed and/or outputted to another device as requiredfor a particular application. Furthermore, steps or blocks in FIG. 3that recite a determining operation, or involve a decision, do notnecessarily require that both branches of the determining operation bepracticed. In other words, one of the branches of the determiningoperation can be deemed as an optional step.

FIG. 4 depicts a high-level block diagram of a general-purpose computersuitable for use in performing the functions described herein. Asdepicted in FIG. 4, the system 400 comprises a processor element 402(e.g., a CPU), a memory 404, e.g., random access memory (RAM) and/orread only memory (ROM), a module 405 for providing multimedia content ona mobile media center, and various input/output devices 406 (e.g.,storage devices, including but not limited to, a tape drive, a floppydrive, a hard disk drive or a compact disk drive, a receiver, atransmitter, a speaker, a display, a speech synthesizer, an output port,and a user input device (such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, and thelike)).

It should be noted that the present invention can be implemented insoftware and/or in a combination of software and hardware, e.g., usingapplication specific integrated circuits (ASIC), a general purposecomputer or any other hardware equivalents. In one embodiment, thepresent module or process 405 for providing multimedia content on amobile media center can be loaded into memory 404 and executed byprocessor 402 to implement the functions as discussed above. As such,the present method 405 for providing multimedia content on a mobilemedia center (including associated data structures) of the presentinvention can be stored on a computer readable medium, e.g., RAM memory,magnetic or optical drive or diskette and the like.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing multimedia content,comprising: receiving, by a processor of an application server deployedin a service provider network, a request from a customer wirelessly viaa data enabled cellular phone for accessing the multimedia content froma multimedia content server of the customer located in a customerpremise; performing, by the processor, an authentication for obtainingthe multimedia content from the multimedia content server; obtaining, bythe processor, the multimedia content from the multimedia contentserver; transmitting, by the processor, the multimedia content to thedata enabled cellular phone; and transmitting, via the processor, themultimedia content from the data enabled cellular phone to a mobileset-top box, wherein the mobile set-top box is deployed in a vehicle. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile set-top box is programmable.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile set-top box interacts witha display installed in the vehicle for displaying the multimediacontent.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the display installed in thevehicle is part of an entertainment system of the vehicle.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein the authentication comprises communicating with anaccess management system, wherein the access management system managesaccess to the multimedia content server.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the data enabled cellular phone has a multimedia contentpreviewing capability.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumstoring a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processorof an application server deployed in a service provider network, causethe processor to perform operations for providing multimedia content,the operations comprising: receiving a request from a customerwirelessly via a data enabled cellular phone for accessing themultimedia content from a multimedia content server of the customerlocated in a customer premise; performing an authentication forobtaining the multimedia content from the multimedia content server;obtaining the multimedia content from the multimedia content server;transmitting the multimedia content to the data enabled cellular phone;and transmitting the multimedia content from the data enabled cellularphone to a mobile set-top box, wherein the mobile set-top box isdeployed in a vehicle.
 8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 7, wherein the mobile set-top box is programmable.
 9. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the mobileset-top box interacts with a display installed in the vehicle fordisplaying the multimedia content.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the display installed inthe vehicle is part of an entertainment system of the vehicle.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein theauthentication comprises communicating with an access management system,wherein the access management system manages access to the multimediacontent server.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim7, wherein the data enabled cellular phone has a multimedia contentpreviewing capability.
 13. A method for providing multimedia content,comprising: receiving, by a processor of an application server deployedin a service provider network, a request from a customer wirelessly viaa mobile set-top box for accessing the multimedia content from amultimedia content server of the customer located in a customer premise;performing, by the processor, an authentication for obtaining themultimedia content from the multimedia content server; obtaining, by theprocessor, the multimedia content from the multimedia content server;and transmitting, by the processor, the multimedia content to the mobileset-top box, wherein the mobile set-top box is deployed in a vehicle.14. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile set-top box has apredetermined home location.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: determining by the mobile set-top box when the mobileset-top box is at the predetermined home location; and automaticallygenerating the request.